Clashes between Hamas and Fateh supporters in Al Najah university in Nablus

Tuesday July 24, 2007 16:16 by IMEMC Staff - IMEMC News

Clashes erupted between Hamas and Fatah supporters in Al Najah University in the northern West Bank city of Nablus, on Tuesday midday.

The clashes started when Fatah supporters attacked a protest organized by Hamas supporters. The protest was to challenge the Israeli army kidnapping of three Hamas leaders in Nablus on Tuesday at dawn, local sources reported.

Medical sources said that three students were injured with live rounds. The University administration decided to close the university and told students to go home, fearing further escalation.

Sources at the university said that the Hamas-affiliated students were handing out leaflets protesting the Israeli army kidnapping of three of their leaders. Fatah supporters tried to stop them from doing so, saying that the university had decided not to allow any student activity for this semester. That confrontation led to the clashes.

The university administration said that the Hamas-affiliated students broke the law by carrying out a political activity on campus, adding that closing the university comes as a protective measure aimed at saving students' lives.

Translated by Ghassan Bannoura IMEMC News Room

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